FSDB girls break school wins record

With almost a month left in the season, it's already been an unforgettable year for the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind girls basketball team.

That's what happens when you break a 73-year-old wins record.

On Thursday, the 2010-11 Dragons became the first team in the school's long history to win 14 consecutive games.

FSDB knocked off visiting Halifax Academy 63-29 to start the season with a 14-0 record.

"It was a sleepless night, but it was worth it," second-year coach Jessica Smirl said. "It was just overwhelming (the support) when I came into work today."

Because of the excitement surrounding the potentially historic game, the dinner schedule was altered at the boarding school to allow all interested students to attend the game, which started at 5 p.m. The student body came out in full force.

It turned out to be something worth witnessing.

Lakeisha McNair scored six of her game-high 22 points in the opening minute of the game as the Dragons went ahead 6-0 and never trailed.

"Like a volcano," McNair said in describing her excitement over the victory.

"I did have faith we would win more games than we would lose, but I never thought we would be 14-0."

Halifax, which took FSDB to overtime in an earlier meeting this season, kept the game within reach early as Arlena Davis scored eight of her 21 points in the first quarter.

But after leading 19-10 after one quarter, the Dragons outscored the visitors 18-3 in the second quarter. That left little doubt that FSDB would break the wins record in a runaway.

In addition to McNair's scoring, the Dragons also got 15 points from Von Burdsall and 14 points from Jazzmin Washington.

"I was very excited," Burdsall said. "When we started the game, I felt ready.

"I'm definitely going to remember it."

Last year, the Dragons went 9-7, and they brought back standouts like McNair and Washington. So expectations were going to be high -- just not this high.

"I knew we'd probably have a winning season, but I didn't think it would be like this," Smirl said.

With the talent there, Smirl said it has been more than basketball skills that have propelled this year's squad to greatness.

"They've really put the drama aside," Smirl said. "You have to respect each other to succeed."

The biggest obstacles for the Dragons, Smirl added, were becoming overconfident or getting too caught up in the hoopla surrounding the record.

But FSDB's fast start and big second quarter made it clear the players were able to focus on the game and wait until the end to celebrate.

"I told them, 'All you have to do is be in control,'" Smirl said. "I told them you have to not be overwhelmed.

"I knew the most important basket was the first one."

With the record out of the way and FSDB not eligible for the playoffs (because they are not in a district), the only thing to left to accomplish is an undefeated season. Nobody was ready to predict that yet.

"Everything is not perfect, but I know we'll have a good season," McNair said.